Double Your Kitty

Humane Society Of Broward Now Offering Two-for-one Cat Adoptions

Cat lovers are getting a bargain this month from the Humane Society of Broward County.

Normally, the adoption fee is $70 for the first feline and $40 for the second, but in support of national Adopt-A-Cat month, the Humane Society is waiving the second cat's fee.

Janet Grenfell, of Cooper City, is taking advantage of the special adoption prices because of a promise she made to herchildren when they moved to Florida from the United Kingdom.

"The kids have always wanted cats," she said. "We never had them in the U.K. and that was the deal for coming to the States."

Cherie Wachter,director of marketing for the Humane Society, said shelters see a lot of kittens during June because that's when many cats have their litters. She said the American Humane Association's Adopt-A-Cat month was put into place for that reason.

"In January, any kitten that comes in is adopted in a second because we don't see a lot of them," Wachter said.

But now there are about 138 cats available for adoption at the Humane Society, 2070 Griffin Road in Dania Beach.

For Daniel Grenfell, 5, the large selection was a perk since he insisted on having a ginger-colored kitten.

"It is my favorite color," he said.

The Grenfell family adopted two kittens, one for Jasmine Grenfell, 12, and one for Daniel and his brother, Matthew Grenfell, 15, to share.

"I don't know how these kittens are going to cope with the attention," Janet Grenfell said. "They [her children] are really excited."

Wachter said despite the special prices, this year's adoptions are down and cat drop-offs are up.

"We are actually down about 200 adoptions compared to last year," she said. That drop is something she partially attributes to Hurricane Wilma.

"Obviously it wasn't on people's minds to run out and adopt a pet when they didn't have power at home. People are still trying to recover and now we are in hurricane season again."

Wachter said adopting two cats is recommended because of the positive effect the new pets have on each other.

"When you take two, the benefit is that they entertain each other," she said.

Andres Castaneda, of Deerfield Beach, was also looking for two kittens to adopt. His wife, Kristina Castaneda, said they were picky about the personality of the kittens they choose.

The Castanedas, who want to raise and train their kittens themselves, came in at the right month, Wachter said.

For more information on adopting a feline, contact the Humane Society of Broward County at 954-989-3977.